Catcher Timmermans and third base player Anneveld will be attending the final two sessions of the Softball HPA programme at Desborough School in Maidenhead on Monday April 14 and Monday April 28.

Launched last month, the Softball HPA has been running on a weekly basis and is designed to provide additional and focused high-level coaching and support for a small number of promising young fastpitch players aged from 14 to 19.

The programme is directed by BSUK national development manager Will Lintern and during each two-hour session, specific softball skills are improved through one-to-one coaching and multiple repetitions and this is supplemented by speed work and strength and conditioning.

The five players taking part in the sessions – Chloe and Sian Wigington, Lucy Hall, Imogen Thomas and Chelsie Robison – also spend time discussing motivation and the commitment needed to improve and succeed.

Beijing 2008 Olympian Nathalie Timmermans will be passing on tips and advice to five rising stars of the British game ©BSUK



"Even though it's still early days, the HPA seems to be the game changer we have been looking for," said Lintern, who runs the sessions along with former Great Britain women's team assistant coach, Robbie Robison, and experienced Australian softball player and coach, Matt Blake.

"The environment, the coaches and the commitment of the players are precisely in line with a high-performance programme.

"While this is only year one of the HPA, we can all see hope that this programme will pay dividends on the European and world stage for GB Softball over the next five to 10 years."

For the final two sessions, the five up-and-coming players will have the added bonus of working with two of the top players in the women's game.

The Netherlands are currently ranked sixth in the world softball rankings and Timmermans and Anneveld have been central to the side's European Championship wins in 2009, 2011 and 2013, while both have also starred at the 2010 and 2012 World Championships.

In addition, Timmermans was the starting catcher for the Dutch at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Virginie Anneveld has been a part of the Dutch side that has claimed three consecutive European Softball Championships ©BSUK



Former British women's head coach Craig Montvidas, who is now in charge of the Dutch side, was fulsome in his praise of both players.

"Nathalie is a tremendous defensive catcher and extremely good hitter, with home run power," said Montvidas.

"She has consistently been one of our best hitters at world-level tournaments over the past five years.

"Virginie is one of the best - if not the best - fielding third base player in the world, and the chance is significant that she will be playing professionally next summer in Japan.

"She continues to be one of our best clutch hitters and has one of the strongest and most accurate throwing arms of any player I have coached."

Lintern added: "We're grateful to Craig Montvidas and the Dutch programme for making these players available.

"The aim of the HPA is to expose our best young players to a rounded programme of coaching, conditioning and lifestyle instruction, and the inspiration that Nathalie and Virginie can provide and the skills and experience they can pass on will be a valuable part of the process."

Both players will be looking to impress on home soil later this year when Haarlem hosts the Women's World Softball Championships from August 15 to 24.

For more information on the 2014 Women's World Softball Championships and to purchase tickets, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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